Long-time Toronto stamp dealer and philatelic expert Rick Sheryer, a life member of the Canadian Stamp Dealers Association (CSDA), died in the early hours of the morning on Nov. 20 at age 70.
Born in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ont., on Feb. 3, 1951, Sheryer later served as the CSDA’s secretary in 1987 and on the association’s various committees throughout his life. He also sat on the Vincent Graves Greene Philatelic Research Foundation’s expert committee and worked with a well-known Toronto auction firm, R. Maresch & Son, for more than three decades.
“Rick was a ‘fixture’ on the Toronto philatelic scene for over four decades and a long-time employee of R. Maresch & Son,” according to a statement issued today by CSDA Executive Director John Sheffield.
During his time with Maresch, Sheryer worked alongside Bill Maresch, the son of the firm’s founder Richard and father of its current owner Peter, “building an amazing career around his passion for philately,” according to his obituary. Earlier, after developing a love for stamps at an early age, he sold material at Kitchener-area stamp shows while working at Amberly Investments in the 1970s.
“Richard loved his family life and valued time with family more than anything,” adds his obituary. “He spent countless hours enjoying his children and grandchildren who adored him. He loved family dinners, walking grandchildren to school, attending plays, concerts, graduations, sporting events, mini-golf, and ice cream runs. He loved taking his family on vacations, often to Florida and Quebec, whenever he could. His grandchildren have great memories of days on the beach, fine dining, and jeep rides with Grandpa. Richard was a fiercely loyal individual and a dear friend to many. He had an incredible range of knowledge and always had an interesting anecdote to tell (often involving a stamp or some postal history). Richard loved philosophy and history and often spoke fondly of his early days as a teaching assistant for the Philosophy Department at Wilfrid Laurier University.”
CSN will publish a full obituary with comments from Sheryer’s philatelic colleagues in Vol. 46 #18.